I am reminded of the reality of recent events, how precious our time is that we’ve been given. Time to enjoy, time to love and time to make an eternal difference. I also know that the only way that we can begin to make an eternal difference is with an Eternal God.
I wanted to share a few thoughts from 2nd Peter.
2 Peter 3:11-14 (NLT) 11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
1.) We Are To Live With Devotion. (Vs.11) Holy conduct refers to the way we live our lives, godliness refers to the spirit of reverence within us by which we live our lives. Thinking of Heaven leads inevitably to pursuing holiness. Our high tolerance for sin testifies of our failure to prepare for Heaven.
2) We Are To Live With Expectancy. (Vs.12,13) Are you continually living with an eternal perspective? If you do, it will radically impact what you are living for!
3) We Are To Live With Diligence. (v.14) What we are “looking” for should have a direct relationship to what we are “living” for. First He says to live Pure, this refers to our character – what we really are on the inside – there is nothing hidden. And secondly, we are to be “blameless” – this refers to your reputation and how you relate to other people – that people know that you truly are what you claim to be!
Peter says the result will be “living peaceful lives.” He is not saying that you won’t be pressured or challenged or squeezed in life…. He did say you would have peace.
Hebrews 11:33-40 (NKJV) 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness we’re made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
We can gain great strength and hope when we view life with an eternal perspective. I am not suggesting that we ignore life here and become oblivious to our surroundings, but what I am suggesting is that when we see it from the eternal perspective, we are able to understand life so much better.